How to Boost Your Confidence in College

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SkinClearingMakeup #CollectiveBias

This blog post starts with a story. It wasn’t going to — it was initially going to be a vague blurb about how I’m so much more confident now that I’m a senior in college than I was when I was a freshman. Duh, right? But last night I had such an eye-opening experience that really showed me how my confidence has skyrocketed in less than four years. In fact, the experience ended with “I would never have been confident enough to do this as a freshman!”

My college hosts a welcome back block party with fireworks, music and ice cream every year. I’ve been going every year since. Freshman year I didn’t dance — I stood with a small group and only spoke to them. Sophomore year I danced only when everyone else started dancing, too. Junior year I ran the event and handed out ice cream, bopping to the beat before I left. Senior year? I talked to tons of freshmen and upperclassmen, convincing them to take a bunch of ice cream, promoting the Snapchat Geofilter I made for the event. I went to the DJ and had him announce the filter for me. Then? I danced. Three of my friends and I danced. No one else was dancing, but we were. We were dancing and having a fun time and not giving a damn about anyone else. (Our dancing even attracted a freshman boy who was shaken to learn I was not a freshman. He also offered me vodka out of a sketchy water bottle and took a selfie with us, but that’s a story for another time).

The point? Sometimes being confident is just about dancing, even when no one else is. I could’ve never guessed that I’d be in the same spot almost four years later dancing and feeling 1000% confident. From one used-to-be shy, self-conscious and nervous freshman to a confident senior, here are a few of my tips about how to boost your confidence in college.

1. Surround Yourself with Good People

I’m confident on my own, but I’m even more confident when I’m with the people most important to me. Being around my best friends and my boyfriend makes me feel confident because when I’m with them I’m truly being myself.

I am confident in the people I’ve chosen to keep in my life. They raise me up. They dance with me when no one else dances. They challenge and support my decisions. The worst mistake a freshman can make is settling when it comes to choosing a group of friends (SeeMistakes Freshman Make & How to Avoid Them) who won’t dance with you like no one’s watching. Make the effort to find good people. They’re out there, I promise.

2. Discover What Makes You Most Confident

This one certainly doesn’t apply to everyone, but for me, my confidence is boosted when I’m happiest with my appearance. Personally, wearing makeup always makes me feel more confident. There’s nothing quite like winged eyeliner and mascara to make me feel like I can do anything. I feel extra confident when my skin looks great and I only feel like applying just a bit of makeup.

Can we also talk about how blogging has boosted my confidence? I’m straight-up in the middle of campus posing for photos!!

When it comes to confidence-boosting makeup, the Neutrogena® SkinClearing® Line is fantastic because it helps you boost your confidence in the moment by covering blemishes and it also helps by helping to clear up blemishes at the same time. It’s a win-win. For once, instead of ignoring problems and covering them up, Neutrogena helps me fix them. If only they had a line for more than just skin problems (!!)

I picked up all of these products at CVS on the Neutrogena endcap. The Neutrogena® SkinClearing® Makeup is the only liquid makeup foundation with Micro-Clear technology that not only treats blemishes, but also helps prevent emerging acne breakouts for clearer skin. The Neutrogena® SkinClearing® Blemish Concealer conceals while helping to clear up blemishes. Plus, the Neutrogena® SkinClearing® Mineral Powder is gentle, controls shine and helps prevent breakouts. So, really, all of these products are working overtime to help you feel confident in the moment and in the future! I also enjoy the Neutrogena® Nourishing Eyeliner for making my look a little smokier and Neutrogena® Moisturesmooth Colorstick for adding a natural tint to my lips.

Remember, makeup isn’t a confidence booster for everyone and you don’t need to wear makeup to feel confident. To each their own! My routine is usually simple and neutral with light foundation and a neutral shadow look…and winged eyeliner, of course!

3. Confidence Is Not Something You’re Born With

I’ve always admired confident people and wished I was that confident. Having finally built up the confidence I always wished for, I’ve concluded that no one’s born with perfect confidence. It’s something that’s developed, it’s something you can discover and build. It’s also something that can dip and rise and be unpredictable. I sound like a corny motivational speaker, but I mean it. I’ve noticed that with age I’ve gotten more confident and I think a lot of it has to do with realizing who I am and the things I’m best at. That’s not to say I’m self-conscious sometimes, but it’s less often than it once was when college began.

4. Your Insecurities Are Magnified To You

Chances are, no one’s paying attention to the things that you’re obsessing over. Example? The small rip on the sleeve of your shirt or even the way you mispronounced a few words during your speech. One of the most comforting things I’ve ever heard? People worry about themselves. No one cares what you’re doing.It sounds fairly blunt and harsh, but it’s comforting when you apply it to small mishaps and self-conscious areas. No one cares! No one cares about your zit or how you almost tripped up the stairs. Once you embrace this, it’s easier to boost your confidence. Just don’t take this too far — people do care about you, but they probably don’t care about or notice your little mishaps.

5. Embrace What Can’t Be Changed

I’m not the most religious person, though I did attend a Catholic high school. Every day, my freshman English teacher had us recite the same prayer. One of my favorite lines was always aboutaccepting the things you cannot change.

Example? It’s taken me years to accept my curly, thick hair. I straightened it EVERY DAY for four years. I damaged the crap out of it. I don’t know if it was laziness or a confidence boost that helped me embrace my curls now, years later. In fact, at the aforementioned block party, I was dancing with my wild curls and all.

I’ve also begun embracing my fair skin. Gone are the days of using self-tanner. I can’t change my skin tone and I’m embracing it. You know what? Perks of being an excessive sunscreen applier and an enemy of the sun is that I’ll probably have fewer wrinkles when I’m older.

6. You’re Not Alone

Freshman year feels like the year of everyone being so confident and sure of themselves while you’re getting left behind. At least, that’s how I felt and that’s how a lot of people I asked felt. You’re not the only one who feels the way you feel, no matter how special of a snowflake you think you are, everything you’ve felt someone’s felt before and they’ve gotten through it. Knowing someone’s felt what I feel and has gotten past it makes me confident that I can do the same.